Liquid-gage.



Patented N 0v. 24, 1914.

INVENTOR r5? H002 ATTORNEYS tits tffiiiiii WALTER; H. HQUI, OF WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI.

LIQUID-GAGE.

Application filed October 31. 1913.

To all whom concern:

Be it known that l, Vismfsn H. Hour, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vt'nrrensburg, in the county of Johnson and State oi Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Licuiid-Gages, of which the foliowing is a, specification.

Mjinvention an improvement in liquid gages, and has for its object to provide a of the character specified, especially ndipted for use with automobiles and like vehicles, for indicating the amount of gasolene or other fuel in the tank, and wherein mechanism is prrwided for pet-initting-a eorrert reading to he made, regardless of the shape of the tank, and of the amount of fuel in the tank, and. wherein the indication is made in liquid measure, and showing the exact amount in such measure at any tiinc instead of indicating the depth of the. fuel in the tank.

In the drawings :-F i' ure 1 is a partial sideview of an autoinciile provided with the imprdgved gage, Fig. 2 is a, front View of the gage detached, Fig, 3 is a section on the line. 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the guide for the indicator, and Fig. 5 is a similar Vl'fiW of a part of the indicator.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with the body 1 01'' an automobile, and the gage is arranged alongside the said body at the hood 2, as shown in Fig. 1.

The gage proper comprises a glass tube 3, arranged within a metal case 4, the said ease having a longitudinally extending opening 5, through which the gage proper may he seen, thus. ermitting the interested party to see the eight of the fuel in the gage. The. case i is tubular in form, and the upper end thereof is closed by a cap 6, having an annular roughened rih Y. for convenience in removing the cap, the so id cap being threaded on to the top of the ease, and having an air vent. The lower end of the case 4 is engaged by one end of a valve casing 8, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24:, 1914.

Serial No. 788,480.

arrangednt the upper end of the ease, and

. the frame 13 at the lower end. Each of the said frames has a circular opening. and the outer surface of each of the said frames is polygonal, the said frames having a hexagonal contour in the present case.

Each of the frames 12 and 13 is provided with oppositely arranged extensions 14, and each of the said extensions is slotted as shown at 15, the slots being radial to the frame. The extensions of the upper frame register with the extensions of the lower frame, and a holder or guide, shown in Fig. 4, is supported by the extensions at each side of the case. Each of the said guides comprises abody 16, having its side edges flanged or bent over to over-lie the body in spaced relation, as indicated at 17, and an indicator 18 shown in Fig. 5, is mounted in each guide. Each of the indicators is ar ranged in the slots 15, of the arms at one side of the case, and screws 19 are passed transversely of the extensions and of the slots or passages 15, each screw hearing at .its inner end against the front face of one of the strips 18. The guides are thus held adjustable in the extensions, so that by loosening the screws of the extensions, adjacent to the guides, either guide may he moved vertically. Each of the indicators 18 is a strip of suitable material, having its ,ide edges engaged by the over-lying flanges 17 of the guides with which it is connected.

Each of the indicators is provided with transverse grnduntions 20, the said graduations extending from the inner edge of one flange 17 to the inner edge of the other, and the spacing between the said indicating lines 20 is further sub-divided by lines of lesser length than the lines or graduw tions '20. The scale upon-which the g'rnduzu tions 20 and 21 are based, depends upon the capacity of the tank, and the space between the graduation l, for instance, and the grad nation 2 may represent a cubic capacity of one gallon in the tank. That is, when the fuel stands in the tube 3 at apoint opposite the line adjacent to the numeral 1, there will he one gallon of fuel in the said tank, and in like manner, as regards the numerals 2, l and so on. Whatever the capacity of the tank, it will be obvious that if the graduetions are spaced on the indicator to prop erlv indicate the capacity of the tank when.

the said tank is level, the said graduations will not properly indicate the contents when the tank is not standing level.

Since garages are frequently built so that the cars stand on an incline, it is obvious that when in the garage, the indicator would 'not indicate the exact contents of the tank, the said indicator being based on the contents of the tank when the said tank was level. On this account, two indicators are provided, one for indicating the contents of the tank when the automobile stands with its wheels at the same level, and the other for indicating the contentsof the tank when the automobile is not level.

It will be evident that knowing the inclination of the automobile or rather of the tank, when the automobile is standing in the garage, it will be easy to arrange one of the scales or indicators to properly indicate the contents of the tank when in such inclined position.

A marker 22 is provided for each indi' cator 18, the said markers being adjustable on the guidcways, and being held in fixed position in any desired manner, and the said markers are designed to be placed on the scale to indicate the height of the fuel at any desired time. As for instance, on starting out on a trip, either m'arker may be arranged to show the height of the gasolenc at the start, and by noticing the gage on the return, and noting the position of the fuel in the tube with respect to the marker, the amountof fuel used on the trip may be easily' ascertained.

To place the gages, the gage is first placed in the proper position where desired, and it is connected to the fuel tank by means of a pipe or the like, the joints being made fluid tight The car is then placed on level ground, and one of the indicating strips with its guide or holder is released, by releasing the screws 19, supporting the same.

It will be understood that the indicating strips 18 are graduated in accqrd ance with the capacity of the tank, and each strip-must he graduated in accordance Wllll the tank ofthe type of car with which it is to be used. After the gage has been placed, as above described, the guide which has been loosened is removed, and inserted in the tank, in order to ascertain what amount of gasolene is in the tank. Should the indicator indicate, for instance, that there is three gallons in the tank, the guide and the strip a e removed,'it being understood that the ide and the strip are prevented from longitudinal movement with respect to each other during this manipulation and replaced in the extensions from which the guide was removed, and indications designating the three allons being placed exactly opposite the height of gasolene in the tube. The

screws are t-hen tightened, and that indicator so placed will always "indicate the amount of gasolene in the tank, when the car is on level ground. The other gage is set in the same manner with the car on an inclined surface.

The markers 23 may be rubber bands or any other suitable device. It will be evident that such markers may be used to indicate leaks, the marker being placed when the can is run in for the night.

If there is a leak, the differences between the height of the gasolene in the tube and the mark will indicate the leak and the amount lost.

The gage when in .use is an absolute pro- 3 tection against the ,entrance of water into the carburetor, audit is a known fact that" perhaps 50% of engine trouble is due to such entrance of iiia'terf The water is constantly deposited in the gasolene by the sweating of the tank on the inside and gin less removed, will accumulate in large qiian tities. Since it is heavier than the gasolene, it will travel tothe lowest point and it is at this lowest point that the gage is connected; Hence the water passes from the tank-and away from the carbureter 'intothe gage, where its presence can be detected and it may be drawn off without wasting gasolenew' In addition with the gage, the operator has full control of the gasoleneand may drain the tank, or withdraw any amount dcsired, by means of the valve 24. It will be noted that the said valve is arranged below the connection of the pipe 11, thesaid wire being connected with the gage between the valves 9 and 24.

A. short section 25 of pipe is connected with the valve casing 8, and a T 26 is an. ranged between the lower end of'the pipe and the valve casing 24. The tank and the gage may be drained by opening the valves 9 and 2-4.

I claim l. A gage of the s -haracter specified, Q0111- prising a tubular case having a longitudinallyextending slot, a tube of transparent material within the case, a valve casing having avalve connected with the lower end 4 of-the tube and the case. a closure for the 1&5 top of the tube having an air outlet, frames arranged on the case at its upper and lower ends, each of the said frames having oppositely arranged arms extending radially from the case. and the arms of the upper frame registering with the arms of the lower frame, each of the said arms having a slot radial to the tube and case, holder cornprising a plate having its side edges flanged to over-lie one face of the plate in spaced re 125 lation, an indicating strip provided with raduations in each holder. each of the said nolders being arranged within the slots at one side of the case, aset screw threaded dicating strip to hold the holder and the strip in adjusted position, said case being arranged with the slot between the holders, and a marker adjustable on each holder.

2. A gage of the character specified, comprising a tubular case having a longitudinally extending slot, a tube of transparent material within the case. a valve casing having a valve connected with the lower end of the tube and the case, a closure for the top of the tube having an air outlet, frames ar ranged on the case at its upper and lower ends, each of the said frames having oppositely arranged arms extending radially from the case. and the arms of the upper frame registering with the arms of the lower frame, each of the said arms having a slot radial to the tube and case, a holder comprising a plate having its side edges flanged to over-lie one face of the plate in spaced relation, an indicating strip provided with graduations in each bolder, and means for detachably holding each holder and its indicating strip in the extensions.

3. A gage of the character specified, cont prising a tubular case having a longitudi nally extending slot. a tube of transrmrent material within the case a valve casinghaving a valve connected ith the lower end of the tube and the case, a closure for the top of the tube having an air oiuilet, frames 1i.- ranged on the case at its upper and lower ends, each of the said frames having oppd sitely arranged arms extending radially from the case, and the arms of the upper frame registering with the arms of the lower frame, each of the said arms having a slot radial to the tube and case a plurality of indicating strips provided with graduations, a holder for each strip, each holder being received in the slots of the arms at one side of the case, and releasable means for holding each holder in the extension.

4. A gage of the character specified, comprising a tubular case having a longitudt nally extending slot, a tube of transparent material within the case, a valve casing having a valve connected with the lower end of the tube and the case, a closure for the top of the tube having an air outlet, frames arranged on the case at its upper and lower ends, each of the said frames having oppositely arranged arms extending radially from the case. and the arms of the upper frame registering with the arms oi the lower frame. an indicating strip provided with Q'raduations at each side oi the case, and means tor detachablv connwtiug each strip and its iolder to the arms at one side f the frame.

A gage of the eharactei prising a tubular case having nail xtending: slot, a tube oi material uithin the case. a valve rainghav in a valve connected with the inert nd of the tube and the case. a chasm-e for the top of the tube having an air outlet, a pl uralitv of indicating strips each provided viti graduations. a holder for each strip, and means on the case for supporting the holder at pposite sides of the case and with the slot between the said strips, said h ld rs be in}; :uljustable longitiulinally of the ease.

a A gage ol' the character specifie omprisiu r a tube f trauspment materia a name l'flf'dlifi hav ng: a val e warmt i 'ljlu' imver end oi the tulw, a closure for the to}: or the tube having an air outlet, a pin ralit v of indicating strips each provided uith graduations. a holder for each strip, and means on the tube for supporting the holder at opposite sides of the tube, said holders being adjustable longitudinally of the tube.

7, A gage of the character specified, comprising :ttubc of transparent material, a pluralitv oi scales similarly graduated, a holder for each scale. and means on the tube for supporting the holders at opposite sides of the tube, said holders being adjustable longitudinally of the tube.

\VALTER H. llOUT.

itnesses W. E. SVDDATH, .TAs. ll. MILLAR. 

